By Patrick James on 2011-07-09 - The author has been a motoring writer for more than 16 years. Formerly motoring editor at the Coventry Telegraph, he now produces motoring copy, on new car launches and road tests on a freelance basis.
Fiat Doblo 2.0 16
MultiJet Eleganza
FIAT has made a valiant styling effort with the latest version of its big Doblo, but there is no mistaking the fact that it is based on a van, with the usual Fiat chic replaced by robust practicality.
This is reflected in the price tag where it is cheaper than many of its rivals, but they too have van-like profiles.
But that may be no bad thing for a vehicle that boasts, well, van-like proportions, but is also a comfortable family vehicle that is available as both five and seven-seater versions, with the latter costing an extra £800.
For the money, £12,845 for the entry-level 1.4 petrol model Active, you get plenty, with standard kit including adjustable steering wheel, rear head restraints, electric front windows, remote central locking and a radio/CD player.
It also features electronic stability programme and automatic hill holder that allows drivers a couple of second to take a foot off the brake on a hill and move off without rolling back.
Dynamic models add air-conditioning, remote central locking and a height adjustable driver's seat. While the range-topping Eleganza features electric rear windows, electric heated door mirrors, front fog lights, a leather steering wheel and gear knob and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Although hardly a thing of beauty, it's not exactly ugly either, with the square profile is softened by more rounded styling, lots of glass, hexagonal black mesh grille and the standard fit 16-inch wheels, large wrap-around headlights and distinctive wide wheel arches.
As with the front, the rear has a large glass area and new-look rear light clusters.
It is a big car, very tall and wider than its predecessor which gives it an even more stable feel on the road while increasing the interior proportions.
The interior is light and airy with a large windscreen giving good visibility and the five-seater not only offers massive amount of head and legroom, it also features cavernous boot space.
This is a whopping 790 litres that can be further expanded to a huge 3,200 litres with the clever folding seats that tumble and fold or can be removed completely, with access made easy via the rear sliding doors.
The boot area also features a multi-position parcel shelf that is capable of supporting of 70kg.
The downside is that it is incredibly heavy, proving almost impossible for my wife to manoeuvre. The high-lifting boot lid also proved heavy for her.
The engine line-up has offers 1.4-litre petrol, plus 1.6 and 2.0-litre MultiJet diesels, with the tested 2.0-litre diesel offering a surprising amount of power and pace from the 135bhp and a decent 320Nm of torque which gives impressive towing capability.
Despite that power on tap and the weight of the vehicle, the car proved to be very economical indeed with a claimed figures of just under 50mpg, pretty good for a car of this size and which actually seemed conservative, and CO2 emissions of 150g/km.
It is also pretty agile, sitting well on corners while the ride is comfortable, as you would expect with a big MPV.
Every model in the range comes with Start&Stop as standard and a gearshift indicator is also standard across the range
For safety, ABS anti-lock brakes are standard as are front and full-size side airbags.
The Doblo can be ordered with Fiat's Blue&Me hands free system or Blue&Me TomTom. Blue&Me uses Bluetooth connectivity to let the driver make and manage phone calls or listen to an MP3 player using voice activation or steering wheel controls.
Fiat Doblo 2.0 16 MultiJet Eleganza
Price: £17,550
Mechanical: 135bhp, 1,956cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max Speed: 115mph
0-62mph: 11.3 seconds
Combined MPG: 49.6
Insurance Group: 13
C02 emissions: 150g/km
Bik rating: 23%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles
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